The South Florida Council of Fire Fighters on Mar. 3 presented Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) with a $1,000 donation in memory of Kaely Camacho.

Early in the morning on Friday, Apr. 13, 2012, Kaely was in the family car with her sister, Bree Ann, on the way to school. As the girls slept, Bree Ann, 16, in the front seat and her younger sister Kaely, 13, in the back, a driver with a blood alcohol level of three times the legal limit was speeding down a road designated only for busses. He ran a red light and plowed into their car at about 100 miles per hour.

The collision tore the minivan in half. Bree Ann and her father survived with injuries, but Kaely, a bright and popular middle school cheerleader, was killed.

Now, the Camacho family works with MADD to share Kaely’s story in hopes that no other family has to experience this heartbreak. They speak at several events, including school outreach and law enforcement recognition events. In fact, Bree Ann changed her major to communications because she is so passionate about sharing her sister’s story and doing everything she can to put an end to drunk driving.

“This is a very personal issue for us,” said Alex Cardenas, Miami IAFF Local 587 vice president. “Tim [Mungovan] and his family are a part of brotherhood that extends beyond departments and city limits. Miami IAFF Local 587 is here today to not only support MADD’s mission but also to support our brother and his family.”

The South Florida Council of Fire Fighters consists of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) organizations in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, which includes the members of Coral Gables, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Key West, Marathon, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade and Monroe County fire fighters. The organization represents approximately 3,500 fire fighters and their families in South Florida.